Tape dispenser



March 21, 1961 E. F. KUSEK TAPE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 26, 1959 IINVENTOR. Eawzn F 115 614 TAPE DISPENSER Edwin F. Kusek, Chicago, 111.,assignor to Mystik Adhesiil lvc Froducts, Inc., Chicago, 11]., acorporation of nuns Filed Jan. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 7 89,907

2 Claims. (Cl. 225-26) This invention relates to a new and improveddevice for dispensing self-sticking tape from a roll.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedtape dispenser that may be molded at very low cost from resinous plasticmaterials, yet will hold the roll of tape in a secure and convenientmanner, so that the tape may be drawn 011 the roll and severed intoconvenient lengths.

A further object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser havinggenerally triangular flanges or supports for holding the roll of tape,so that the roll will rotate freely as the tape is drawn oi the roll.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser of theforegoing character, in which the triangular flanges are formed aroundopenings through which one or more fingers of the user may be insertedto hold the dispenser as the tape is drawn off the roll.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenserwhich is extremely serviceable and convenient, yet is easy tomanufacture and low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tape dispenser to be described asan illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the tape dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view. 7

Fig.4 is an elevational sectional view, taken generally along a line4-4- in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along a line 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section, corresponding to the extremeright hand portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view, taken as indicated by theline '7-7 in Fig. 6.

As already indicated, the drawings illustrate a tape dispenser 10 whichis adapted to hold a roll 12 of selfsticking tape 14- or the like.Various types of tape may be dispensed, such as the type comprisingcellophane, or other transparent film, coated on its underside with apermanently sticky, pressure sensitive adhesive. The illustrated roll 12is wound on a hollow cylindrical spool or core 16, which may be made ofcardboard, synthetic plastics or the like.

The illustrated dispenser 11B is formed with a pair of spaced, generallyparallel sidewalls 18. The spacing between the walls 18 is slightlygreater than the width of the tape 14 so that the tape roll 12 willrotate freely between the walls. The front edges of the walls 18 arejoined by a front wall 20, which may be formed integrally with thesidewalls 18. The entire dispenser 10 may be molded in one piece fromvarious suitable resinous plastics.

In this case, the front wall 20 slants upwardly from its bottom end in aforward direction. At its upper end, the front Wall 21 has a forwardlyturned generally horizontal lip 22. At its front end, the lip 22 has afront 2,975,950 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 edge 23 with serrations 24thereon, for use in cutting off the tape 14. The serrations are formedby V-shaped grooves 25 and 26 which extend along the upper and lowersides of the lip 22.

The sidewalls 18 are formed with portions 27 which extend above theopposite sides of the lip 22, so as to guide the tape 14 as it passesover the lip 22. To the rear of the lip 22, the sidewalls 18 are formedwith generally half-circular notches 28 so that the end of the tape 14-may be retrieved more readily if it becomes detached from the lip.

The sidewalls 18 have horizontal bottom edges 30 which are adapted torest upon a table, a desk or other supporting surface, so that thedispenser 10 will stand upright in a stable manner. A curved edge 32,corresponding to a portion of a circle, extends along the top and rearportions of each sidewall 18. In general, the edge 32 corresponds to theoutline of the tape roll 12.

In this case, the roll 12 is rotatably supported by a pair of generallytriangular flanges or stubs 34, projecting inwardly from the sidewalls18. The flanges 34 are adapted to engage the inside of the roll 12 atlocalized areas, so that the roll will be supported for rotation withlow frictional resistance. A generally triangular opening 36 is formedwithin each of the flanges 34.

It will be seen that each of the illustrated flanges 34 is formed withan arcuately curved rear side 38 adapted to engage the inside of theroll 12. The curved side 38 extends through somewhat less than a halfcircle. In addition, each flange 34- has substantially straight upperand lower sides 41) and 42 which converge forwardly from the upper andlower ends of the curved rear side 36. Thus, the upper side 40 slantsdownwardly, while the lower side 42 slants upwardly. At the frontextremity of each flange '34, the upper and lower sides 40 and 42 arejoined by a nose portion 44, which is adapted to engage the inside ofthe tape roll 12. The flanges 34 and the openings 36 on the twosidewalls 18 are aligned. Each flange 34 is adapted to extend part wayinto the opening within the roll 12. Because of the limited area ofengagement between the triangular flanges 34 and the inside of the roll,the frictional resistance to rotation of the roll is low. The triangularflanges 34 support the roll in an adequate manner so that it cannot moveabout excessively.

On each sidewall 13, an inwardly projecting, substantially circular boss46 is formed around the corresponding flange 34. The bosses 46 areadapted to engage the opposite ends of the spool 16 so as to prevent theends of the roll 12 from rubbing against the inner sides of thesidewalls 18.

As shown, the flanges 34 taper in length, so as to project inwardly to aprogressively decreasing extent, toward the front of the dispenser. Thistaper facilitates the mounting of a roll of tape on the dispenser.

When tape is to be dispensed, the user may insert one or two fingersthrough the triangular openings 36 within the flanges 34. In this way,the dispenser may be held against the pull of the tape 14- as it isdrawn off the roll 12. The finger or fingers engage the curved rearsides 38 of the flanges 34. Thus, the curved sides of the flanges areconveniently disposed for use as finger grips. The insertion of twofingers through the triangular openings 36 will prevent the dispenserfrom rotating as the tape is pulled off the roll. Any desired length oftape may be severed by cutting or tearing the tape along the serratedfront edge of the lip 22.

When the roll of tape is used up, the spool or core 16 may be removed byspreading the sidewalls 18. The sidewalls 18 and the front wall 2%) aresubstantially flexible and resilient to provide for such spreadingmovement of the sidewalls. The walls 18 may also be spread apart topermit the mounting of a new roll of tape on the flanges or stubs 34. Itwill be recognized that the tape dispenser may readily be moulded in onepiece from synthetic plastic materials. Thus, the dispenser is easy tomanufacture and low in cost, in addition to being convenient and highlyserviceable.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may beemployed without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined inthe following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing self-sticking tape'or the like from a roll,comprising, in combination, a pair of opposite generally parallelsidewalls with a space therebetween for receiving the roll, a front wallextending between the front edges of said sidewalls, said front wallbeing formed integrally with said sidewalls, said sidewalls havingaligned generally triangular openings therein, each of said sidewallshaving a three-sided flange formed thereon around said triangularopening and projecting toward the opposite sidewall to extend part waythrough the roll of tape and thereby hold the roll between saidsidewalls, said sidewalls and said front wall being substantiallyflexible and resilient, said sidewalls thereby being movable away fromeach other by flexing said sidewalls and said front wall to provide forinsertion and removal of the roll, said front wall having a generallyhorizontal lip formed at the upper end thereof, said lip having aserrated front edge for cutting ofl the tape, said sidewalls havingportions extending upwardly from the side edges of said lip for guidingthe tape, each of said generally triangular openings having an arcuatelycurved rear edge and a pair of substantially straight edges convergingforwardly from the upper and lower ends of said curved edge, saidflanges having curved sides extending along said curved edges, andsubstantially straight sides extending along said straight edges of saidopenings, said curved sides of said flanges being engageable with theinside of the roll, said flanges havinglnose portions extending betweensaid straight sides of said flanges for engaging the inside of the roll,at a point opposite said curved sides, said flanges forming finger gripportions for resisting the pull of the tape as it is drawn forwardlyfrom the roll. said curved sides of said flanges being on the sides ofsaid triangular openings remote from said serrated lip for engagement bya finger inserted through said openings and for supporting the rollagainst the pull of the tape.

2. A device for dispensing self-sticking tape or the like from a roll,said device comprising, in combination, a pair of opposite generallyparallel sidewalls with a space therebetween for receiving the roll, aconnecting wall extending between said sidewalls and formed integrallytherewith, said sidewalls having aligned general ly triangular openingstherein, each of said sidewalls having a three-sided flange formedthereon around said triangular opening and projecting toward theopposite sidewall to extend part way through the roll of tape andthereby hold the roll between said sidewalls, said sidewalls and saidconnecting wall being substantially flexible and resilient, saidsidewalls thereby being movable away from each other by flexing saidsidewalls and said connecting wall to provide for insertion and removalof the roll, each of said generally triangular openings having anarcuately curved rear edge and a pair of substantially straight edgesconverging from the upper and lower ends of said curved edge, saidflanges having curved sides extending along said curved edges, andsubstantially straight sides extending along said straight edges of saidopenings, said curved sides of said flanges being engageable with theinside of the roll, said flanges having nose portions extending betweensaid straight sides of said flanges for engaging the inside of the rollat a point opposite said curved sides of said flanges, said flangesforming finger grip portions for resisting the pull of the tape as it isdrawn from the roll, said curved sides of said flanges being on thesides of said triangular opens ings remote from said connecting wall forengagement by a finger inserted through said openings and for supportingthe roll against the pull of the tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,275,408 Alliss Mar. 10, 1942 2,400,881 Kahn May 28, 1946 2,640,657Guyer June 2, 1953 2,767,833 Hedin Oct. 23, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 285,964Switzerland Jan. 16, 1953

